Meet The Team!

Isaac Trenton

Founder

My goal is simple: to prove that chess is a game for everyone. Over the past six years, I've spent countless hours formulating specific methods that have changed the way my students look at the board; through Focus Chess, I hope to share these methods, so you can not only improve more efficiently, but more enjoyably. I picked up the game at 12 years old, and am by no means a chess prodigy; now I've taught dozens of my own students, passed down my experience through other coaches, and broken into the top 20 players on Lichess!

As long as you have a passion for the game, Focus Chess is at your service.

Daniele Genocchio

Coach, International Master

Daniele wants nothing more than to share his passion with his students; he sees the game as a form of creative expression. He's one of the most prominent figures in Italy's chess scene, and several of his pupils have become Junior National Champions. Daniele prefers students above 1900, and offers sessions in both English and Italian.

Geydis Mantilla

Coach, Fide Master

Geydis specializes in curating material specific to your abilities; with several years of coaching experience, she will quickly determine what helps you learn best! She has won countless championships across Latin America, and prefers students in the 1200-1900 range. Geydis offers sessions in both English and Spanish.

Michael Takahashi

Coach, National Master

Michael strives to teach you how to improve on your own; he will provide you with tools that last a lifetime. He has tremendous experience in both competing and coaching, and hopes to share what he's learned with the chess community. Michael typically takes on students in the 1200-1800 range, and offers sessions in English.

Mani Nayebi

Coach, fit for beginner/intermediate players

Mani is a powerful visualizer; he took himself past 2300 singlehandedly, and wants to show you how too! Mani has taken countless new players well beyond their expected plateaus, and offers his lessons in English and Farsi.

Duarte Cardoso

Coach, fit for beginner/intermediate players

Duarte excels at seeing the board through his student's eyes; he's a strong 2150, and has taken total beginners well beyond 1500. If you're looking to construct powerful habits, Duarte is your perfect coach! He offers sessions in both English and Portuguese.

Join Us!

Focus Chess is always looking for fresh talent; if you'd like to take on students of your own, send us a message! You don't need a resume, but try to share as much information you can, including your time zone, your rating, and what drives you to coach others. If your application looks promising, we'll set up a training seminar!